what's causing my constipation?

[rockinray]

I was about 35lbs heavier last year.  I was on high blood presseure medication for about 3yrs. I began going to a gym last year and changed my diet dramatically. Began eating tons of fruit, drinking protein shakes, avoiding bad foods. I have been an avid vitamin taker all my life. I lost approx.35lbs since then. I began experiencing constipation issues about 2yrs-2 1/2 yrs ago. I have taken every type of stool softener,laxative,drinking epsom salt water,magnesium phos.-all of it. Even though I lost weight and have been eatin much better I still have been dealing with bad constipation. I told my doctor I thought it might be that I don't need the blood pressure medicine anymore. He proceeded to take me off of them. I began feeling better yet the constipation problem is still there. I just purchased probiotic capsules and aloe vera gel from a health food store and started taking them. Yet I still seem to be having these constipation problems. What else do you think I should do? I do eat lots of fiber and fruit and pure acai juice so why is this stuff not helping me? what's next for me to do to get rid of this?

[Gaui]

Magnesium is the answer. The trick is to take enough of it, take it until you have to go. I personally take 2 x pills of it aday and its enough for me but if I get any constipation I take more of magnesium and it works, has for long time now.

[Gaui]

The Salad is great but I'd skip the dressing. I use pure Olive Oil on salads. Feta cheese is ok on it also if kept in reasonable dozes. The juices are not good at all, far to much sugar, better eat the berries and fruit direct and eat the seads with it (apple seeds for example).

[RockyMD]

I am thinking salad (Plain Romaine or w/ Organic Dressing) sounds like a viable and smart option and DRIED Prunes.  Not all at once though, lol.

Not sure why so many Thumbs Up for Prune Juice?  Like I seen  what you're (GAUI) saying about Sugar Content in Juice... and PJ is just as bad + doesn't have the Fiber vs. the DRIED. I believe I am correct on that..

[Gaui]

Well I don't eat the nuts if I have flare ups from colon, then I'm on very soft food like boiled lamb (boil it long and even twice) and the float from that and add vegetable into the pot to get better float - but other times (I seldom have flare ups colon). You are talking lots of sugar. I stay off sugar as I can, also I stay of all additives I can (MSG and all the E's). Juice is not as good at the berries and fruit themselfs. The seeds of fruit are good, apple seeds for example. Then I use that wery sparingly as sugar is poison for me at least. Stay out of carbohydrate rich food and eat more of vegetable and protain. Then I take pro-biotics daily. Psyllium husk stear out in wam water. At least that works for me.

[RockyMD]

Nuts with Colitis?   Eeek. That scares me.  But I like them. I think Pistachios are the Healthiest?  :)
  I been wondering if we get bouts of C. when were in a mini-stage of Remission. To which I agree, we need to tweak our diet some. I been trying to eat Raisin Bran here (Similar to All-Bran; what someone else said) and drink juice. Don't think I can handle Prune Juice though...never grew up with it at least.

But I Bought Trop Not from Concentrate OJ the other day...Is Grape (Welch's All-Natural Brand)  better though than OJ for C?    *sighs*    

[Gaui]

I am alot on high protein and vegetable foods and avoid carbohydrate rich food. That helps me on my colitis and makes it easy to control my weight. However I have had problems with constipation from this foods. What I do is that once a day (during my reward meal) I eat 1/3 of a banana, 2-3 spoons of kashju nuts and other nuts with various berries. Daily I also take pro-biotics and at least one glass of psyllium husk steared into warm water. This works fine on me and resolves the problem.

[Lauren6286]

Hey...

My name is Lauren, 23yrs old. I've been suffering with constipation for a long time and have tried everything as well. My Crohn's disease is not typical, because I don't get diarreah. Anyways, I have what is called incomplete bowel movements, where I'll only be able to go a little bit, it will be horrendous to push out, then I wont be able to go anymore. Then, like 10 min later I'll be back in the bathroom... and this will happen all day for hours until I get relief...sometimes, on a bad day, i'll be in the bathroom 9 times until I get any releif. Combination of Prune juice and 100% bran cereal helps me sometimes, but it takes awhile. I have found relief with Miralax. The stuff seems to work pretty well, and It is gentle.. doesnt make you have that horrible sudden urge. I also tried Mineral Oil (2tbs), which my aunt recommended. She has 2tbs every morning and is able to have a BM in about an hour. Dulcolax and Colace didn't help me because they worked too slow and didn't soften the stool. Miralax is an Osmotic Laxative, which is desgined to draw water from your body into your intestines, helping the stool pass through more easily. If you are severely constipated, I recommed taking it twice a day, every day to start... see how your body reacts.. and find what works for you. I take it every other day, or as I need it. Trust me, I KNOW constipation... I've been to the ER twice for it. Hope I helped... Let me know if you have anymore questions!

-Lauren